BURBANK, Calif., June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Bros.
Consumer Products (WBCP), with DC Entertainment, announced today
that it has once again extended its successful relationship with
leading worldwide toy manufacturer, Mattel, Inc. The new multi-year
agreement grants Mattel rights to continue as master toy licensee
for the entire universe of DC Comics characters. Under the
terms of this strategic alliance, Mattel is granted unprecedented
access to the complete breadth and scope of the DC Comics vault of
characters, which includes more than a thousand world-famous DC
Comics Super Heroes and DC Comics Super-Villains, such as
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The
Flash, and The Joker. The deal continues Mattel's
support of the universe of DC Comics characters across its entire
portfolio of core brands, including Hot Wheels®,
Matchbox®, Barbie®, Mattel Games and
Fisher-Price®.
"Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have an unrivaled portfolio
of characters and a strong slate of content across all platforms
which is essential to driving our global consumer products
business—a business anchored by our long-term partnership with
Mattel," said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer
Products. "With so much opportunity on the horizon, we know
Mattel will bring the talents of its world-class organization to
create and market product lines for fans of all ages."
In addition to the rights to utilize existing DC Comics
characters and existing content, the extension includes Mattel's
rights to produce toys based on future DC Comics films, animation
and television projects that are developed and produced during the
term of the agreement. Mattel is set to develop toy lines for two
of Warner Bros.' most highly anticipated theatrical releases: the
summer 2016 release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,
and the recently announced Justice
League film, to follow.
The dominance of DC Comics storylines in the world of television
has enabled Mattel to develop product based on the Warner Bros.
Television primetime series Arrow, entering its third
season, and brings new opportunity with the upcoming live-action
series The Flash. Mattel will also have the
opportunity to create product with newly announced DC Comics–based
television series Gotham, Constantine and iZOMBIE,
which will all debut during the 2014–15 television
season.
"In our fifteen years of collaboration with Warner Bros.
Consumer Products, Mattel has been honored with bringing the
stories and characters of the DC Comics universe to life in toy
form," said Doug Wadleigh, Senior
Vice President, Global Brands Marketing, Boys and Entertainment for
Mattel. "Mattel's robust portfolio has helped extend DC Comics
properties to new consumers utilizing the toy brands they know and
trust. We are excited to continue our partnership, and look forward
to supporting upcoming entertainment launches and franchise
development."
During its nearly 15-year partnership with WBCP, Mattel has
created and delivered a number of successful toy lines that bring
the fun, action-packed heroism and excitement of DC Comics'
characters to life, including top-of-the-line action figures,
vehicles and role play accessories across all DC Comics brands,
including tentpole films The Dark Knight Trilogy and the
2013 release of Man of Steel; to the vintage-styled line in
support of the 60's BATMAN™ Classic TV Series. Mattel's
Batman evergreen lines, Fisher-Price DC Super Friends
Imaginext line, Hot Wheels® brand, as well as the multiple DC
Comics Super Heroes action figure lines, together illustrate the
commitment and success Mattel has had with the DC Comics brand over
the years.
"We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with
Mattel and the Warner Bros. Consumer Products teams to collaborate
on compelling product lines that support the many exciting DC
Comics initiatives slated for the coming years including film, TV,
games and comics," stated Diane
Nelson, President of DC Entertainment.
Driving its core Batman business, WBCP and Mattel
continue to maintain the momentum for the ultimate Super Hero with
its exclusive evergreen Batman brand that has come to life
in toys and at retail. This year, Mattel has released new and
exciting products in the evergreen Batman toy line,
including the Lights and Sounds 10ꞌꞌ Core figures, Hot Wheels®
Batmobile Assortment, Batman Basic Figures, the all-new Batman 12"
Figure, as well as additional figures and characters to augment the
assortment. Mattel has reinvigorated their collector offering
with the new 6ꞌꞌ Total Heroes™ line for the gateway collector and
the 3¾ꞌꞌ DC Multiverse line of hyper-detailed action figures for
the more serious collector – both lines launched this
year.
Fisher-Price continues to introduce the world of DC Comics to
the next generation with their popular DC Super Friends
pre-school line. Part of the Fisher-Price Imaginext line, DC
Super Friends has proven to be incredibly successful in the
U.S., U.K., Brazil, Mexico, Australia and Spain, as it continues to expand across
Europe with its recent debut in
German, and globally.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment
Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising
organizations in the world.
About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman,
Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman,
Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with
strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros.
Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in
concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories
and characters across all media, including but not limited to film,
television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive
games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and
magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest
English-language publisher of comics in the world.
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq: MAT) is the worldwide
leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family
products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes
Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced,
Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American
Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and
Fisher-Price® brands, including Little
People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA®
Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt®,
as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In
2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies"
by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate
Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With
worldwide headquarters in El Segundo,
Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000 people in 40
countries and territories and sell products in more than 150
nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of Play.
Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or
www.twitter.com/mattel.
CONTACTS:
|
Janice
Aguilar-Herrero
|
Candice
Jacobson
|
Warner Bros. Consumer
Products
|
Mattel,
Inc.
|
818-954-3821
|
310-252-4619
|
Janice.Aguilar-Herrero@warnerbros.com
|
Candice.Jacobson@mattel.com
|
BATMAN, SUPERMAN, THE FLASH, WONDER WOMAN and all related
characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
(s14)
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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140612/117312
SOURCE Warner Bros. Consumer Products